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PRESIDENT TINUBU’S VISIT TO TARABA STATE EXPOSES GOVERNOR KEFAS’S ALLEGED FAILURE – APC CHAIRMAN

The pioneer Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State and former Nigerian Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, Alhaji Hassan Ardo, has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Taraba has exposed the alleged failure of Governor Agbu Kefas’s administration. The visit, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, was seen as a clear indication that the state government has underperformed in the last two years. “It is quite unfortunate that while presidential visits to other states are typically marked by the commissioning of multiple people-oriented projects, there was nothing of such in Taraba,” Ardo said. “The only project the Vice President could commission was the already renovated airport, which was originally constructed and inaugurated over a decade ago and named after the late Governor Danbaba Suntai.” Ardo lamented that Governor Kefas has failed to construct even a kilometre of road since assuming office. “I wish the President had visited in person to witness the lack of development firsthand,” he noted. According to him, the visit has validated concerns expressed by opposition figures that the current government has no tangible achievements to show. “What Governor Kefas boasts about are cosmetic renovations—the Government House, guest lodges, and personal accommodations—while crucial infrastructure like the Namnai Bridge, which collapsed last year, remains unattended,” Ardo said. He recalled that in March 2025, Governor Kefas announced that the contract for the bridge’s reconstruction had been awarded, yet no visible work has begun. Ardo accused the governor of mismanaging over N300 billion accrued from the Federation Account in the past two years. “The people deserve accountability. Governor Kefas should admit that he has lost focus and is incapable of governing the state. He should resign,” Ardo declared. Regarding the state’s investment drive, particularly the much-publicized Taravest initiative, Ardo dismissed it as a “conduit pipe” for misappropriating public funds. “Mark my words—by the end of this administration, not a single real investor would have set up shop in Taraba State,” he said. Ardo called on President Tinubu to provide special federal interventions to cushion the hardship being experienced by citizens due to what he described as poor governance under the PDP-led administration.

TARABA STATE TEETERS ON BRINK OF FINANCIAL COLLAPSE AS BILLIONS VANISH

Taraba State is facing a severe financial crisis, with allegations of widespread mismanagement and diversion of state resources under Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas. The state treasury is reportedly empty, and government activities have come to a standstill, leaving essential services and infrastructure projects abandoned. Governor Kefas’s absence from the state for over three months has fueled speculations of a deep financial crisis. Observers point to the suspension of all ongoing projects and the state’s ballooning debt profile as clear indicators of fiscal mismanagement. Despite securing over N250 billion in bank loans during his first 18 months in office, there is little to show in terms of tangible development. Contractors have abandoned key projects, including the remodeling of the Government House, the construction of a Trade Fair complex, and the renovation of state institutions. Danjuma The question on every Taraban’s lips is simple: Where is the N250 billion? Allegations suggest the funds have been diverted for personal enrichment and political patronage. It is alleged that N100 billion of the loans were funneled back to Governor Kefas’s political godfather, a retired general from the state. Governor Kefas has dismissed his critics as impatient, stating, “I heard people complaining that I am not working and not executing projects. Such people are just in a hurry. What I am doing now is laying a foundation for incoming governors to build on.” However, Hon. Emmanuel Bello, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Governor, vehemently denied claims of financial mismanagement. “Taraba is not broke. I don’t know how anyone can say that. Our IGR has improved considerably due to the hard work of the sagacious governor and his team.” Despite these reassurances, the people of Taraba remain skeptical, demanding transparency and accountability from an administration they once believed held the promise of transformation.